French Culture

Jean-Benoît Nadeau and Julie Barlow spent a decade traveling back and forth to Paris as well as living there. Yet one important lesson never seemed to sink in: how to communicate comfortably with the French, even when you speak their language. In The Bonjour Effect, Jean-Benoît and Julie chronicle the lessons they learned after they returned to France to live, for a year, with their twin daughters. They offer up all the lessons they learned and explain the most important aspect of all: the French don't communicate, they converse.

Le manuel de référence incontournable : l'essentiel, tout l'essentiel, rien que l'essentiel ! Un exposé à la fois riche et clair de tout ce que vous souhaitez connaître pour enrichir votre culture générale, et, si vous préparez examens et concours, de tout ce que vous devez connaître. Le stoïcisme, l'art étrusque, le jansénisme, le choc des civilisations, le pop art, la crise pétrolière, l'œuvre de Sartre ou encore la vie de Confucius n'auront plus de secrets pour vous.

Every year upon arriving in Plobien, the small Breton town where he spends his summers, American writer Mark Greenside picks back up where he left off with his faux-pas-filled Francophile life. Mellowed and humbled, but not daunted (OK, slightly daunted), he faces imminent concerns: What does he cook for a French person? Who has the right-of-way when entering or exiting a roundabout? Where does he pay for a parking ticket? And most dauntingly of all, when can he touch the tomatoes?

This short book considers a short (about thirty-seven page) speech given by the existentialist philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre (1905-1980) in 1945. In this speech, "Existentialism is a Humanism," Sartre defended existentialism against its critics. I consider what lessons of wisdom we can take from Sartre's speech. But I do that in a critical way--not in the sense of being hostile or negative but in the sense of examining and weighing what Sartre says to see where I agree and where I disagree. Like him or not, Sartre is a great thinker who is worth considering even if you may reject some or all...

Women can be heroes. When twenty-year-old nursing student Frances “Frankie” McGrath hears these words, it is a revelation. Raised in the sun-drenched, idyllic world of Southern California and sheltered by her conservative parents, she has always prided herself on doing the right thing. But in 1965, the world is changing, and she suddenly dares to imagine a different future for herself. When her brother ships out to serve in Vietnam, she joins the Army Nurse Corps and follows his path.

When journalist Ann Mah's diplomat husband is given a three-year assignment in Paris, Ann is overjoyed. A lifelong foodie and Francophile, she immediately begins plotting gastronomic adventures à deux. Then her husband is called away to Iraq on a year-long post - alone. Suddenly, Ann's vision of a romantic sojourn in the City of Light is turned upside down.

So, not unlike another diplomatic wife, Julia Child, Ann must find a life for herself in a new city.

From the cassoulet that won a war to the crêpe that doomed Napoleon, from the rebellions sparked by bread and salt to the new cuisines forged by empire, the history of France is intimately entwined with its gastronomic pursuits. A witty exploration of the facts and legends surrounding some of the most popular French foods and wines by a French cheesemonger and an American academic, A Bite-Sized History of France tells the compelling and often surprising story of France from the Roman era to modern times.

France is a country that continues to inspire, surprise, and challenge the world. From revolution to resistance, from decolonisation to digitalisation, modern France has lived through some of the most defining events of the 20th and 21st centuries. Understanding contemporary France means understanding a key player in global politics, culture, and values — and this book aims to make that history both accessible and engaging for learners of French. As a French teacher abroad for over 20 years, I’ve seen how language and history go hand in hand. Students don’t just want to learn grammar ...

Are you learning French? Knowing more words is one of the BEST ways to speak and understand more French. And, if you want to sound like a native speaker, you'll need vocab that's relevant to French culture and daily life and that is actually used by French people. With Learn French: Discover French Culture & Traditions by FrenchPod101.com, you learn the must-know vocab and French cultural insights that you won't find in a textbook.

Dans Une Course Folle Sur La Voie Rapide: Recueil Histoires Vraies Et Récits Fantastiques Tirées De Ma Vie De Motard Hors-La-Loi, Edward Winterhalder partage une mine d'histoires vraies inédites qui ont fini au fond d'une salle de montage au cours des vingt dernières années, ainsi qu'une demi-douzaine d'histoires invraisemblables. Cette anthologie comprend des extraits de son autobiographie en deux volumes Recherche De Mon Identité, deux romans de l'auteur britannique Iain Parke, un roman écrit par son coauteur habituel Marc Teatum, et un ouvrage récent de non-fiction qu'il a ...

Bring meaning and joy to all your days with this internationally best-selling guide to the Japanese concept of ikigai - the happiness of always being busy - as revealed by the daily habits of the world's longest-living people.

French women don't get fat, but they do eat bread and pastry, drink wine, and regularly enjoy three-course meals. In her delightful tale, Mireille Guiliano unlocks the simple secrets of this "French paradox", how to enjoy food and stay slim and healthy. Hers is a charming, sensible, and powerfully life-affirming view of health and eating for our times.

Journalist Maximillian Potter uncovers a fascinating plot to destroy the vines of La Romance-Conti, Burgundy's finest and most expensive wine. In January 2010, Aubert de Villaine, the famed proprietor of the Domaine de la Romance-Conti, the tiny, storied vineyard that produces the most expensive, exquisite wines in the world, received an anonymous note threatening the destruction of his priceless vines by poison - a crime that in the world of high-end wine is akin to murder - unless he paid a one million euro ransom.

When Jane Bertch was seventeen, her mother took her on a graduation trip to Paris. Thrilled to use her high school French, Jane found her halting attempts greeted with withering condescension by every waiter and shopkeeper she encountered. At the end of the trip, she vowed she would never return.

Le banquet du savoir est ouvert ! Il est temps pour vous de fréquenter les plus grands : Socrate, De Vinci, Louis XIV, Einstein, Marilyn ou Pelé ! " La culture, disait Edouard Herriot, homme d'Etat et fin lettré, c'est ce qui reste quand on a tout oublié. " Exemples et chiffres à l'appui, ce livre vous permettra d'assouvir votre appétit de connaissance et d'assimiler des milliers de faits sur les sujets les plus divers : Histoire et géographie, Arts et littérature, Sciences, techniques et vie quotidienne, Sports loisirs et divertissements, Religion, Philosophie et société...

Discover the France you never knew — beyond the Eiffel Tower and the Loire châteaux, past the cafés of Paris and the lavender fields of Provence, into the soul of the nation. France: The Tapestry of Regions takes you on an unforgettable journey through history, culture, and identity — from Brittany’s rugged coasts to Corsica’s jagged mountains, from the vineyards of Burgundy to the Alps’ soaring peaks. Historian Julien Peltier weaves together centuries of French history with vivid storytelling, revealing the unique character of each region: the troubadours of Languedoc, the ...

French isn’t just one accent—it’s dozens of voices, each with its own music, quirks, and charm. In French Accents: A Tour de Voice, Julien Peltier takes you on a witty, insightful, and cultural journey across the French-speaking world. From the clipped sophistication of Paris to the lyrical singsong of Provence, from the hearty rhythms of Quebec to the warm cadences of Africa, this book reveals how accents shape identity, history, and humor. Why do Parisians tease southerners? Why does Quebec French sound so different (and so delightful)? Why do we swoon at a French accent in English...

The French Quarter Guide: Exploring the History and Best Places to Visit in New Orleans’ Oldest Neighborhood is your essential companion to discovering the vibrant heart of New Orleans. Whether you're a first-time visitor or a seasoned traveler, this comprehensive guide offers everything you need to explore the rich culture, legendary history, and must-see attractions of the iconic French Quarter. Step back in time as you uncover the fascinating origins of the Vieux Carré, admire its world-famous architecture, stroll along historic Bourbon Street, and discover hidden courtyards, jazz ...

Sans doute, l’œuvre entière de Calvin est une contribution à l’esprit de la Renaissance. Elle n’en est peut-être pas le centre, ni l’origine qui l’a entamé et en a inauguré le lancement en Europe, puisque la Renaissance de l’Italie a précédé celle de la France. Mais on peut, sans crainte de se tromper, attribuer à l’œuvre de Jean Calvin un rôle vital en France, où Calvin a eu une influence considérable sur le mouvement de la Renaissance. L’œuvre de Calvin a influencé non seulement la Renaissance mais encore des générations postérieures en des temps ...

In France, the simple act of eating bread is an exercise in creative problem solving, and attempting to spell requires a degree of masochism. But that's just how the French like it - and in WTF?!, Olivier Magny reveals the France only the French know. From the latest trends in baby names to the religiously observed division of church and state, prepare yourself for an insider's look at French culture that is surprising, insightful, and chock full of bons mots.